Bat’s how it’s DUNG

ONE imports rare fertiliser and the other wants to grow unique plants from it. . Now thanks to your Reporter Michael Whitham, who appeared on popular TV show Dragon s Den last October with his bat guano fertiliser, met Reporter columnist and world map g

ONE imports rare fertiliser and the other wants to grow unique plants from it. .

Now thanks to your Reporter Michael Whitham, who appeared on popular TV show Dragon's Den last October with his bat guano fertiliser, met Reporter columnist and world map garden expert Tom Hart Dyke after returning from Indonesia with his stock.

In spite of a knock-back from the dragons, Michael set up Caveman's Bat Guano Fertiliser shop in Beckenham and has already enjoyed much interest in his novel product.

Tom has promised to test the product in his famous World Garden at Lullingstone Castle, Eynsford to check its effectiveness.

He said: "It's a brilliant idea. I have so many different plants to test the fertiliser out on. It's a very interesting product and I'm really looking forward to seeing the results."

The duo plan to test out the bat guano on different plants from all over the world, including orchids and grasses.

They will use the bat guano and other alternative fertiliser on the same plants and judge which one is best.

Mr Whitham said: "I can't wait to see the results and it was an absolute pleasure to meet Tom.

"He's such an interesting and entertaining character. It was brilliant to meet someone who's really cool and in to plants. He told me all about his past and how he made the gardens at the castle.

"I'm not worried about the other fertilisers outdoing the bat guano at all.

"At the end of the day any new knowledge the experiment throws up will be really useful. But I know bat guano is the best."

Mr Hart-Dyke shot to international prominence in 2000 when he was kidnapped in the Panamanian jungle on a plant hunting expedition. His plant obsession has led him on regular globe trotting jaunts to bring back rare and precious flowers to Lullingstone.